US, Egypt moving toward resolution

Washington – The United States and Egypt are moving toward resolving an impasse over US-funded pro-democracy groups that has cast a shadow over Washington’s security ties with Cairo, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday.

“We’ve had a lot of very tough conversations and I think we’re moving toward a resolution,” Clinton told a Senate panel, adding that she did not want to discuss details while the talks were ongoing.

US officials have warned that $1.3bn in annual US aid for Egypt’s military has been put at risk by the case, which has seen Egypt raid a number of non-governmental organisations and impose travel bans on a handful of US citizens.